Wire stretcher



R. SCHAEFER WIRE STRETCHER July 12, 1960 Filed Aug. 28, 1956 Rudolph .Sc/rae fer INVENTOR.

I Patented July 12, 1960 United St es en -Dike WIRE STRETCHER I I Rudolph Schaefer, Rte. 2, Cisco, Tex; Filed Aug. 28, 1956, Ser. No. 606,616

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-161 The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in stretchers particularly for stretching or repairing smooth or barbed wire fences and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a mechanical device of this character comprising novel means for firmly gripping the end portions of the wire.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a wire stretcher of the type including a crank 1 ratchet wheel 9 for securing the reel R against retrograde 1 rotation.

' operating lever 15 of angular cross-section is fixed on the actuated reel or spool and a cable windable' thereon,

unique means for releasably securing said reel or spool against retrograde rotation.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a mechanical wire stretcher of the character set forthcomprising a novel construction of metallic frame for supporting the reel or spool. 7

Other objects of the invention are to provide a wire stretcher of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost. I

I These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to'like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a wire stretcher embodying the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section through an intermediate portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated, substantially oval frame which is designated generally by reference character 5. The frame 5 includes a flat bar 6 of suitable metal which is bent upon itself at an intermediate point and which terminates in complemental, inwardly offset,

- edge-abutting end portions of substantially semi-circular transverse section providing a tubular cable guide 7 at one end of the frame 5.

Mounted for rotation in the frame 5 is a metallic reel R. The reel R comprises a tubular" shaft S which is" joumaled transversely in the frame 5 in openings provided therefor in the side members of said frame. On one end portion of the tubular shaft S is fixed a disk 8. Fixed on the other end portion of the shaft S is a ratchet wheel 9. The end portion of the shaft S which carries the disk 8 projects laterally beyond the frame 5 and has fixed thereon an operating crank 10.

Iournaled in an opening provided therefor in one side of the frame 5 at a point adjacent the ratchet wheel 9 is a pivot pin 11. A pawl 12 is fixed on the inner end portion of the pivot pin 11 for engagement with the outer end portion of the pivot pin 11. A pin 16 rigidly connects the free end portions of'the pawl 12 and the lever 15; said pinbeing operable in an arcuate slot 17 provided therefor; in the frame 5.

A steel cable'18 has one end anchored, as indicated at 19, to the shaft 8 of the reel R for winding on said reel. The cable 18 emerges from the frame 5 through the guide 7 and has connected to its other or free end a gripper 20. The gripper 20 includes a flat, elongated polygonal metallic plate 21 having formed integrally with one of its marginal edge portions a right angularly extending flange constituting a stationary jaw 22. A substantially J-shaped jaw 23 is pivotally secured at one end, as at 24, to the outer end portion of the plate 21. The jaws Hand 23 are adapted to receive and clamp therebetween one end portion of the wire 25. The plate 20 is further provided with a lug or car 26 which is spaced from the stationary jaw 22. Threadedly mounted in an opening provided therefor in the lug or ear 26 is a thumb screw 27 which is engageable with the free end 7 of the pivoted J-shaped jaw 23 for actuating same toward .from the guide 7 is a gripper 30 which is substantially similar in construction and operation to the gripper 20.

A link 31 loosely connects the gripper 30 to a swivel 32' which is journaled in the frame 5. The gripper 30 is adapted to clamp the other end portion of the wire,

30 in an obvious manner.

as indicated at 33.

' It is thought that the use or operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the end portions of the wire to be stretched and spliced'are clamped in the grippers 20 and Through the medium of the hand crank 10, the reel R is then turned in a direction to'wind the cable 18' thereon, thus stretching the wire. The spring-pressed pawl 12' engages the ratchet wheel 9 for securing'the reel R against retrograde rotation with the cable 18 wound tightly thereon. When the work has been completed the pawl 12 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 9 against the tension of the spring 14 through themedium of the lever 15 for unwinding the cable 18, after which the end portions of the wire are released from the grippers 20 and 30.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a frame, a manually operable reel rotatably journalled in said frame for winding up a cable attached to one end portion of a wire, a swivel connected to said frame, an elongated plate having an aperture in one end portion thereof, a link extending through said aperture and connecting said 1 plate'to said swivel, a laterally projecting flange provided a wire may be gripped between said flange and the intermediate portion of said jaw, a laterally projecting lug provided at the relatively opposite longitudinal side edge portion of the plate and formed with a screw-threaded opening, 'and a clamp screw extending throughs'aid-epen ing and engaging the other end of said jaw forurging the latter toward said flange. V

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is formed integrally from one piece of strap material having a rounded intermediate portion constituting one end of the frame, and a pair of spaced parallel frame side members extending from said rounded intermediate portion, the end portions of said strap material being formed to provide a pair of complemental substantially semi-tubular elements having their longitudinal edges in 15 2,810,537

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,106,995 Verne'r et a1. Aug. 11, 1914 1,481,424 King Jan. 22, 1924 1,518,769 Brurik Dec. 9, 1924 1,746,108 Dufiey Feb. 4, 1930 2,586,048 Hyatt Feb. 19, 1952 Anderson Oct. 22, 1957 

